mazeofrelationships | Bittersweet is the name of the game [until it's just sweet and there are weddings]

Bittersweet is the name of the game [until it's just sweet and there are weddings]

There's a lot to be happy about. For one thing, Mom finally called her back and judging by the short conversation they shared, seems proud that she was able to figure out a way to save the city and herself. Maybe she just wanted her grown daughter to fend for herself?

(She could have just said so instead of ignoring her, though.)

The hotel is full of sinners who truly want to be redeemed, Vaggi's happy with her new name, Baxter is one of them, and she's mending her relationship with her dad more and more. Plus, the Vees are leaving them alone.

But Husk...isn't in good shape. He's functional, but he always looks sad and lost and disinterested. She's caught him in Angel's room cuddling with Fat Nuggets and trying not to cry.

And Alastor's not helping. Charlie was initially glad to have him back, but he's still his usual difficult, cagey self treating the hotel like an amusement, and she's noticed a lot of his jerkish behavior is aimed at the poor bartender.

"Tsk, tsk, Husker. The bartender's supposed to be the one everyone goes to when they're depressed, not the other way around," the radio demon scolds. "You're lucky anyone comes to you for drinks lately, the clubs have bartenders who know how to smile and look appealing!"

"Alastor, maybe leave him alone," Charlie says sternly. "He's doing his job, and...it hasn't been easy for any of us."

They've gotten used to the eight-foot spider-shaped hole in their lives, but that doesn't mean they're okay with it being there. They never were.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Shut the fuck up." Husk pounds on the bar with his hand, glaring over at the Radio Demon. "I'm beginning to understand why Vox wanted to wipe that stupid smile off of your face."

His chain has been wearing on him more and more lately with the loss of Angel. The fact that he's not only stuck down here, but stuck being someone's errand boy with nothing that he can do about it is just depressing. Of course Angel left. Everyone leaves him. It was too good to be true that Angel would ever even dream of... He just wishes he could go back to not caring anymore.

Vaggi glances over from the front desk, but says nothing for now.

"Oh dear, sympathizing with the man who wanted to blow up the entire city?" Alastor smirks. "Maybe reflect on that a bit, Husker."

"Maybe you should reflect on why he feels that way, Alastor," Cherri snaps. "I know ya own him, but d'ya have to be such a cunt?!"

"Just because Vox was wrong doesn't mean you're the good guy," Charlie says. "How is Husk supposed to get any work done if you harass him, anyway?"

"Who the fuck made you therapist?" Husk turns away from Alastor, back to the glasses behind the bar.

Niffty is currently hiding under a sofa, not wanting to get in the middle of this.

Vaggi steps over, crossing her arms. "Seriously, Alastor. Stop harassing him. There's no need to poke sore spots."

"What the fuck sore spot are you talking about? Nothing's wrong! Why can't people just leave me the hell alone!!!" Husk growls a bit, putting his hands on the bar to calm himself down. This isn't helping anyone, and it'll probably piss Alastor off enough to do something to him. Then again, maybe he'll be able to feel something.

Baxter has his nose buried in a pulp novel, he'd rather not get involved either.

Alastor shakes his head. "Oh, Husker, I think I know what this is about. But I did once warn you about what happens when you care too much," he says. "When you open your heart to others."

"Alastor, knock it off," Charlie warns.

"You don't think I fucking know that?" Husk snarls, claws digging into the bar in front of him.

"Are you fucking getting off on this? Because let me tell you, there's better porn out there. Go find some and leave me alone." And for all of Hell's sake, don't keep going.

"Then why did you get so attached to that spider, hmm? One would think you'd have learned your lesson after your train wreck of a marriage."

Wait, what?! Charlie's irritation briefly turns to surprise. Husk was married?!

"How the fuck did you know about that, you absolute piece of trash?" For a moment, it looks like Husk is going to launch himself at Alastor, but he remains behind the bar. "That is none of your business, and not relevant." It's totally relevant his mind tells him. It's just another failure, yet another person who you thought cared and left.

Something clicks for Vaggi, something that she is going to look into later. A girl talking to someone in Heaven who could only be Angel's sister who was mentioning a gambling and magician father... Could it be? Maybe.

"Oh, I have my ways," Alastor gloats, and seeing Husk's reaction makes something in Charlie snap. She's reminded of another instance, the very person Husk is pining for having his sin revealed to the entire hotel by another asshole except at least this one was honest about it and Charlie was just too selfish and blind to see.

She'd failed Angel. She'll be damned if she lets this happen again. She goes full demon mode and grabs Alastor by his upper arms.

"I can't believe I thought you were our friend, or at least our ally! I won't have anyone digging into my friends' deepest wounds and laughing while they bleed! GET OUT!" she roars. Maybe he's fired, maybe he just needs to be in a time-out cage so he can think about what he did.

Charlie's roar gets Vaggi at her side in an instant, spear out, and wings unfurled. She hadn't thought that the first thing that she'd need to defend the Hotel against was one of their own, but she's ready to enforce whatever Charlie decides.

Husk has had enough, he launches himself at Alastor, claws out, ready to rip into that smug fucking deer. However, before he can get close, Alastor manifests a glowing green chain, and holds Husk at arm's length. Husk snarls, trying in vain to get to Alastor.

"Ah-ah-ah!" Alastor calmly holds the chain. "Naughty kitty, what would the Princess say if she saw you attacking her host?" He turns to Charlie. "Not that it matters, because if you throw me out, I'm taking my little pets with me."

Shit. He's got her there. "Fine, then go to your room! Just stay away from Husk, you've done enough damage for a week, let alone one day," she snaps. Alastor chuckles smugly, letting the chain disappear and smirking as Husk is dropped halfway onto the bar like an old sock.

"Fine. I grow bored of this rabble anyway." He disappears in his usual flash, and Charlie partially de-transforms, going to Husk's side.

"Fuck," Cherri mutters, "and I thought the Vees were a bunch of cunts."

Husk collapses on the bar with a bit of a thump. He has a sneaking feeling that he'll pay for this later, but for now, he needs to get a bit of his dignity back.

Standing, he brushes himself off, taking a long, deep breath to steady himself before turning back to everyone else. "I'll pay for the bar scratches, Charlie. Sorry about that."

The last thing he wants is to talk about any of that. It's too rough, it's too... painful. As calm and sarcastic and flippant as he usually is, it's easy to forget how deep Husk's own wounds go. Even his poker face is not hiding his emotions at this moment. He's not even sure if he cares enough to try.

"Don't worry," Charlie says, fully back to her normal self by now. "I'm sorry I couldn't make him stop before he threw the drama bomb."

"Y'need to talk about it?" Cherri asks from the couch where Fat Nuggets has been cuddled up on her chest the whole time and she knows if she tries to move she'll feel guilty.

"No." Husk snaps, a bit more sharply than he intended. "No reason to. It's old news." People're always leaving him. That's just his life.

"Charlie, I gotta get some air. I'll... be back." Without waiting for an answer, he walks out the door, hands in his pockets, trying to keep his emotions under control. Whether irony or fate is in charge, he finds himself outside of the club where he and Angel first bonded. Just seeing the place is almost enough to let the emotions he's been holding back for weeks pour out.

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